No, Willem Dafoe hasn't heard from the 'Joker 2' director about playing a version of the Batman villain. Not yet, at least.
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Kirsten Acuna
Mar 4, 2023, 18:32 IST
Willem Dafoe expressed interest in 2022 about playing a Joker imposter alongside Joaquin Phoenix's version of the character.Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images, Warner Bros.
Willem Dafoe hasn't heard from "Joker 2" director Todd Phillips about appearing in the sequel.
The actor previously expressed interest in playing a "Joker imposter" to GQ opposite Joaquin Phoenix.
When recently asked by Insider if he's heard from director Todd Phillips at all about the sequel, Dafoe gave a succinct: "No, ma'am."
Dafoe previously expressed interest in playing a "Joker imposter" opposite Phoenix's version of the Clown Prince of Crime to GQ. Production is currently underway on the sequel to 2019's billion-dollar "Joker" film.
During an interview for his upcoming film "Inside" on Wednesday, Dafoe told Insider playing the popular Batman villain was "never on the table" over the years.
"I think many, many years ago when they were first doing 'Batman,' there was some talk about me being involved, but that never came to me. I only heard about it in retrospect," Dafoe added of the 1989 Tim Burton-directed film starring Michael Keaton.
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In 2018, Dafoe told The Hollywood Reporter "Batman" screenwriter Sam Hamm thought he was physically perfect to play the Joker based on his appearance, but he was never formally contacted about the role.
Instead, Jack Nicholson played the iconic DC villain. A total of seven actors have played the character in live-action.
Still, fan art of Dafoe as the Clown Prince of Crime has circulated online for years.
Dafoe's acting career spans more than 40 years in which he's played both heroes and villains, characters in Marvel and DC, and in films large ("John Wick") and small. There's not much the actor hasn't done.
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When Insider asked Dafoe if there's a role he hasn't had yet that he still hopes to play, he said he doesn't think of roles in terms of characters.
"You don't know what a character is until you get there," Dafoe told Insider, adding, "The character is made out of the situation and the situation is made out of people and places. And so it's hard to imagine. It's like — What I need, I can't imagine. And if I know what I need, I don't really need it."
But, for now, Dafoe added he has other items on his plate, including next month's Focus Feature's release, "Inside."
The psychological thriller features Dafoe as a thief whose art heist goes awry when he gets locked in an upscale penthouse. Low on food and supplies, he has to use his wit and remaining strength to try and find a way out as he slowly descends into madness.
"Inside" is in theaters on March 17.
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